Greg Wetzel
Member
I was curious to know if a locomotive from another European country could work in Britain, such as on a heritage railway for example, without any conversions needing to be done.
Yes, there were nine SNCF BB 22000 class electrics that worked through the Channel Tunnel before the class 92s were available - Though they never operated beyond Dollands Moor yard in the UK, of course.I remember seeing SNCF electric locos in Dollands Moor yard not long after the channel tunnel opened. I think they worked freight trains through the tunnel in the early days.
Of course, locos from Irish Rail regularly work to Belfast.I was curious to know if a locomotive from another European country could work in Britain,
May I be the first to point out that the thread title states 'Britain'; Belfast is in the United Kingdom but is not in Great Britain!Of course, locos from Irish Rail regularly work to Belfast.
I was curious to know if a locomotive from another European country could work in Britain, such as on a heritage railway for example, without any conversions needing to be done.
First and last. Britain is the overall set of the islands. Great Britain is just the England/Wales/Scotland island. Inconsistent that "Great" only refers to a fraction of overall Britain, but there we are.May I be the first to point out that the thread title states 'Britain'; Belfast is in the United Kingdom but is not in Great Britain!
I was always taught that "British Isles" was the correct term including all of Ireland. I think "Britain" is ambiguous but if being used with that meaning then the entire Irish fleet is foreign but operating in Britain!First and last. Britain is the overall set of the islands. Great Britain just the England/Wales/Scotland island. Inconsistent that "Great" only refers to a fraction of overall Britain, but there we are.
A batch of the SECR L class 4-4-0s were built by Borsig in Berlin in 1914 IIRC - but of course to SECR gauge - and then there were the Waggon und Maschinenbau railbuses and sundry recent examples. But I don't think any of them really count. And the GWR had its de Glehn compound...
The Barry Railway had five 0-6-2 tanks of class B1 built by Franco- Belge in 1900, because British builders could not offer a reasonable delivery time. Sharp Stewart supplied the drawings. For the same reason, several railways bought locomotives from US builders around the same time.A batch of the SECR L class 4-4-0s were built by Borsig in Berlin in 1914 IIRC - but of course to SECR gauge - and then there were the Waggon und Maschinenbau railbuses and sundry recent examples. But I don't think any of them really count. And the GWR had its de Glehn compound...
They were standard US locos for size, but did need UK couplings and buffers adding, and vacuum brake gear. A strange purchase at the time in 1949 of extreme foreign exchange currency shortage.Were the Alco Switchers at Port Talbot UK spec or straight imports of US spec locos?
And don't forget the General Motors switcher no. 44 at Merehead (1980), a standard US loco.Were the Alco Switchers at Port Talbot UK spec or straight imports of US spec locos?
I was always taught that "British Isles" was the correct term including all of Ireland. I think "Britain" is ambiguous but if being used with that meaning then the entire Irish fleet is foreign but operating in Britain!
First and last. Britain is the overall set of the islands. Great Britain is just the England/Wales/Scotland island. Inconsistent that "Great" only refers to a fraction of overall Britain, but there we are.
If the initial question had said "Great Britain" instead of "Britain" it would of course have been an incorrect reply.
If they fitted the loading gauge (likely, looking at a photo!) and had all the necessary safety equipment and so on, I see no reason why not. Presumably on some heritage line?So, would the Ferrovie Nord Milano 200 0-4-0Ts be able to work in Britain without needing conversion?
everyone seems to have forgotten the SR USA class
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_USA_class
the Americans intended them for Europe, doesn't that count?But the OP did say a locomotive from another European country....